In his final moments as Oakland Raiders coach, Hue Jackson sat before old friend Reggie McKenzie at team headquarters in Alameda, Calif. In his first major act as Raiders GM, McKenzie made his intentions clear: "I'm going to bring in my own guys," Jackson said he was told.

And with that, Jackson became the former coach of the Raiders. It marked the end of a year that saw him elevated from offensive coordinator to replace Tom Cable as coach, picking up personnel duties after the death of team owner/GM Al Davis and making a bold trade for quarterback Carson Palmer.

Tuesday, it all sunk like a stone. By losing four of their final five games, including the finale, Jackson's Raiders missed the playoffs. And he paid the price.

"You know I did everything possible to keep my job," Jackson told Comcast SportsNet California. "McKenzie told me I am not in his plans for the future."

McKenzie's reasoning? As new man on the job he is starting from scratch. Even if that meant firing an old friend; even if it mean dismissing a man who had the same agent. That's a general manager's purgative.

Jackson pleaded his case before McKenzie, he told CSNCalifornia. It wasn't immediately known how long they talked.

Speculation also swirled Tuesday the decision wasn't made by McKenzie alone. Mark Davis, son of the legendary Raiders owner, captains the Raiders now. It was Mark Davis who hired McKenzie, with input from old Silver and Black lions including John Madden. Reports before Tuesday suggested Jackson's job was safe.

But something happened to change the situation, media reports indicated.